1 Kings 22:29-36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 22:29-40

The matter in contest between God's prophet and Ahab's prophets is here soon determined, and it is made to appear which was in the right. Here, I. The two kings march with their forces to Ramoth-Gilead, 1 Kgs. 22:29. That the king of Israel, who hated God's prophet, should so far disbelieve his admonition as to persist in his resolution, notwithstanding, is not strange; but that Jehoshaphat, that pious prince, who had desired to enquire by a prophet of the Lord, as disrelishing and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:29

So the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, went up to Ramothgilead. Which, according to Bunting F18 Travels, &c.; p. 178. , was twenty four miles from Samaria. That Ahab went is no wonder, it was his own motion first, his inclination led to it, his prophets encouraged him, and, in bravado to the prophet of the Lord, was determined upon it; but it may seem much more strange that Jehoshaphat should, after such an account as Micaiah had given, and who, doubtless, could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:30

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle ,.... Change his clothes, his royal robes, and put on others, perhaps the habit of a common soldier; having, it may be, been informed by some deserters or spies, of the design of Benhadad against him. Abarbinel thinks the meaning is, that he would clothe himself with a coat of mail, and take to him the each of the instruments of war, and so go into the battle secure; this seems probable from 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:31

But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had the rule over his chariots ,.... This was the number of his kings in the first battle with Israel, and of his captains in the second, 1 Kings 20:1 , and the same number he had now, being very probably not only the number of his chariots, but the division of his army was into so many battalions, under the command of these captains of chariots: saying, fight neither with small nor great ; of those that belonged to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:32

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat ,.... In his royal robes: that they said, surely it is the king of Israel ; for they might not know the persons either of Ahab or him, but judged by his habit: and they turned aside to fight against him ; pressed upon him with all their force, either to take him or slay him: and Jehoshaphat cried out ; with a loud voice, either to the captains to let them know who he was, or to his men to come to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:33

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel ,.... Against whom only their orders were to fight: that they turned back from pursuing him ; for upon so great a force coming upon him he could not withstand, he fled. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:34

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture ,.... Not aiming at the king of Israel, or knowing whereabout he was. In the Targum on 2 Chronicles 18:33 , this man is said to be Naaman, the general of the army of the king of Syria, and so Jarchi here; but though he did this in his simplicity, as the word signifies, without any intention to smite any particular person; yet God directed the arrow to the man he had marked for destruction, and neither his disguise, nor coat of mail, could secure... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:35

And the battle increased that day ,.... It went on, and did not stop upon Ahab's going out of the host, but was very hot, and both sides fought furiously: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians : the Targum is, "he strengthened himself, and stood;' he exerted himself to the uttermost, and stood as long as he could, or could be supported, fighting against the Syrians, to animate his army, and that the Syrians might not have any notion of his being wounded: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 22:36

And there went a proclamation throughout the host, about the going down of the sun ,.... Much about the time that Ahab died; and this proclamation by an herald might be made by his order, as he was dying, or by Jehoshaphat, when he understood he was dead: saying, every man to his city, and every man to his own country ; the order was to cease fighting, and make the best of their way as fast as they could to their own homes, since their shepherd and master was dead, which fulfilled the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 22:30

I will disguise myself - Probably he had heard of the orders given by Ben-hadad to his thirty-two captains, to fight with the king of Israel only; that is, to make their most powerful attack where he commanded, in order to take him prisoner, that he might lead him captive whose captive he formerly was; and therefore he disguised himself that he might not be known. But put thou on thy robes - What is meant by this? He could not mean, "Appear as the king of Judah, for they... read more

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